Jaipur: Rajasthan has launched DigiVan, India’s first Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) dedicated to the forest sector, marking a significant milestone in the use of digital technologies for environmental governance and sustainable forest management. Developed by the Rajasthan Forest Department, the platform integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), geospatial analytics, satellite data, and digital governance to improve forest conservation, wildlife management, climate initiatives, and citizen services.
Chief Secretary V. Srinivas (IAS:1989:RJ) described DigiVan as a transformative digital platform that will enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in forest administration. He also directed officials to promote monthly district performance rankings, organise regular webinars, and expand the use of AI-based innovations across the department.
India’s First Digital Public Infrastructure in Forest Sector
DigiVan is the country’s first and only multi-layer digital data platform built exclusively for the forest sector.
Designed as a unified data exchange platform, it brings together forest-related datasets, digital applications, and governance tools on a single platform to support evidence-based decision-making and improve departmental functioning.
According to the Rajasthan Forest Department, the platform aims to strengthen conservation efforts while making forest services more transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly.
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Wide Range of Digital Use Cases
The DigiVan Forest Stack has been developed with multiple applications covering forest management, climate action, wildlife conservation, and public services.
Its key use cases include:
- Forest Health Monitoring
- Forest Fire Risk Prediction
- Land Use Change Detection
- Afforestation Planning
- Wildlife Habitat Monitoring
- Carbon Project Preparation
- Green Credit Registration
- Unified Citizen Portal
- Eco-Tourism Management
These digital tools are expected to enable real-time monitoring, data-driven planning, and faster decision-making across the state’s forest administration.
AI and Data Analytics to Drive Governance
Chief Secretary V. Srinivas has emphasized the greater use of Artificial Intelligence and advanced data analytics within the department.
He directed officials to:
- Introduce monthly district performance rankings
- Conduct regular departmental webinars
- Promote AI-based innovations
- Strengthen data-driven governance
- Improve accountability from headquarters to field-level offices
Under the DigiVan framework, monthly rankings of field offices and headquarters units will be generated using key performance indicators to ensure last-mile accountability and continuous monitoring.
Collaboration with Global Partners
The DigiVan platform has been developed through collaboration with several reputed national and international partners.
The project has been supported by:
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- JICA DXLab
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
- SatSure (Technology Partner)
The collaboration combines international expertise in digital transformation, satellite technology, and environmental governance.
Chief Secretary Congratulates Rajasthan Forest Department
Sharing the development on social media, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas congratulated Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Arijit Banerjee and the Rajasthan Forest Department for creating the country’s first Digital Public Infrastructure for forests.
He stated, “Congratulations to PCCF Shri Arijit Banerjee ji for developing a DPI with multiple applications. DigiVan is indeed India’s first Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the forest sector.”
A Major Step Towards Digital Forest Governance
Officials believe DigiVan will significantly improve transparency, efficiency, and service delivery across the forest department.
By integrating AI, satellite imagery, digital mapping, and real-time monitoring into a unified platform, Rajasthan aims to create a modern, technology-driven ecosystem for forest conservation, biodiversity management, climate resilience, and citizen engagement.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen India’s broader digital governance and environmental sustainability agenda.
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